Published on Friday, December 30, 2005
in the Panama City News Herald

FHP ready for holiday weekend

The Florida Highway Patrol is not changing plans to increase trooper presence on state roads this weekend as a result of a decline in traffic deaths during the Christmas weekend.

An FHP spokeswoman confirmed this week that all available troopers will be working shifts during the three-day New Year’s weekend.

FHP conducted similar shifts of increased patrols during the 72-hour Christmas weekend in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities and alcohol-related accidents.

The increased presence is a likely factor in the drop in reported traffic deaths during the holiday weekend. FHP reported 19 traffic-related deaths in Florida, down from 33 fatalities during the same time period in 2004

One of those fatalities included a Calhoun County man killed in a two-car accident Christmas Eve on County 390 near Lynn Haven.

This evening, FHP again will be targeting speeders, aggressive drivers, intoxicated drivers and drivers who ignore hazardous conditions.

Law enforcement agencies in Bay and surrounding counties reported their officers will be watching for drivers who are suspected of being impaired. Police officials said they encourage partygoers to designate a driver or use an alternate means of transportation instead of driving under the influence.

“There are a lot of parties and gatherings this time of year where alcohol is served,” Port St. Joe Chief James Hersey said in a news release. “If you plan to drink, you should make plans for transportation after the party, be it a designated driver, taxi, bus or some other form of transportation.”

Hersey said his department will staff checkpoints on U.S. 98 and State 71 as well as join Gulf County deputies and FHP at DUI checkpoints on State 22.

“During the holiday, our officers will be out to ensure that impaired drivers are caught and arrested, and that everyone is buckled up,” Hersey said.

The Christmas weekend deaths, according to preliminary figures that include only accidents investigated by FHP, occurred in 16 separate accidents. The numbers do not include three deaths in Volusia County investigated by Ormond Beach authorities.

Fourteen of the 19 deaths occurred at night and five were alcohol-related. Seven others are pending, FHP said.

Five motorcyclists died in weekend accidents, including three who failed to wear helmets. Three others killed in car accidents did not wear their seat belts.

FHP data on the number of traffic citations issued as part of FHP’s “zero-tolerance” policy during the holiday weekend has not been tabulated.